Kohala Lighthouse Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, let’s break this down, but in feet and miles per hour this time. The same story holds – it’s a bleak stretch for waves. The only spot on the menu is Kohala Lighthouse (Big Island). It’s a consistent, top-tier reef break that handles a northerly swell, but the wind and chop are wrecking it for the foreseeable future.

We kick off this Sunday the 13th with tiny 3ft waves from the north-northeast, but it’s a cross-shore mess with chop. Nothing to write home about. Monday and Tuesday stay poor; the swell gets a bit bigger, up to 4ft, but with onshore breezes and a short period, it’s just junk. The energy is weak to moderate, between 118 and 215 (moderate energy), but the quality is zero.

Wednesday the 16th brings a bigger pulse. You get 5ft from the east-northeast in the morning, bumping to 6ft in the afternoon, but the period drops to a pathetic 5 seconds. Wind is a fresh cross-shore, so it’s lumpy as hell. The energy hits 418 (moderate), but it doesn't matter.

Thursday the 17th is the most “exciting” day but not in a good way. The swell pushes to 8ft in the morning and then 8ft by the afternoon, with a 10-second period. The energy jumps to 959 and then 1153 (strong to very strong energy). The wind is still a messy cross-shore. The afternoon session gets a marginal rating, so there’s a tiny chance, but at 8ft this is strictly expert territory, and the wind is a killer.

Friday the 18th stays over 8ft with a strong breeze turning it into a washing machine. The weekend of the 19th and 20th stays in the 6ft to 8ft range with fresh cross-shore winds. All "poor surf conditions" with energy from 418 up to 811 – power is there, but the shape is gone.

Towards the end of the run, around the 22nd of September, we get another big spike. Tuesday afternoon shows 8ft with a 10-second period and energy hitting 1206 (very strong). It gets a marginal score, but again, it’s a fresh cross-shore, so it’s lumpy. The 23rd is similar, just over 8ft with a strong cross-onshore, making it messy.

There is a faint glimmer on the 27th and 28th. Sunday the 27th morning has 7ft from the east-northeast with a light 9 mph breeze from the northeast, but the period is a short 7 seconds. The energy is 541 (moderate). It’s marginal, but a lighter breeze might give you a few manageable waves if you’re really keen.

Bottom line: no standout sessions. The swell is there, but the wind is relentless. This is one of those times where the reef is getting hammered, and with that steady cross-shore, it’s more of a kite-surfing zone than a paddle zone for the bulk of the period. Keep it on the radar, but don’t make plans.

Rusty

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